Fated

It’s been their second time since they hold hands and Shikamaru starts thinking about it. He raised his right hand in front of his face and realized that it was Temari’s hands that felt familiar.

The next day, they shared their lunch together and Temari noticed how Shikamaru starts gliding his hands to hers as if he was willing to hold her hand. She could feel his warm hand squeezing it lightly while waiting for their coffee in front of the dispenser. Temari looked at him suspiciously and Shikamaru caught it.

“What? You said I should act it more naturally?” He whispered while glancing at the people behind them.

“Yeah, you acted it too naturally. It scared me”

He chuckled “So, now you’re convinced I’m good at this?”

“Yeah, right. Whatever” she rolled her eyes at him

Neji approached them in their spot and initiate a conversation “Hi, sorry to disturb you lovebirds but I have something to announce”

“What is it?” Shikamaru and Temari turned their heads at him

“The company will have an outing Tomorrow at the Icha beach resort, you two are invited”

“Company outing?” Temari curiously asked, she never experienced a company outing. Suna doesn’t have any beaches so an outing did not exist in there.

“Yeah, you haven’t gone to a company outing before?” Shikamaru asked her

“No” she turns her head again at Neji “Who are invited to this company outing?” she asked to make sure that Matsuri was there.

“Everyone. But some declined, they have other commitments tomorrow. For now, Genma, Hayate, Omoi, and Matsuri declined the invitation” Neji said

“Matsuri?” Temari curiously asked him

“Yeah, she said she’ll have a date with her boyfriend tomorrow. An out-of-town date I guess”

Her heart sank as she chuckled to hide her emotions. Shira never dated her outside of Suna, he didn’t initiate asking her on any dates, and Temari did all the efforts. She was so jealous that tears start forming in the corner of her eyes. Her hands gripped tightly on Shikamaru’s and he felt it.

“Oh, Shikamaru. I’ll be seeing you there with your girlfriend alright? I need to go now” Neji said before he walked away from their spot.

Shikamaru nodded at Neji and turn his gaze at Temari who is now stiff and staring at a blank space.

“You heard him, we’re going” he said

Temari was startled and turned her head at him “Uhm, I don’t think I can come”

“Why?”

Temari removed her hand from his and slide it inside her pocket. Everyone has already left the pantry so Temari’s voice was in her normal tone “Rule number four, you’re going to follow my orders”

“No, you’re wrong. Rule number four we’re going to follow each other’s orders” he crossed his arms to his chest while looking at her with furrowed brows.

“I need some rest. I don’t feel like going tomorrow”

“Temari” he sighs “You know we need to make them believe about this right? Both of us need to come there. Is there something you need to tell me?”

Temari was now avoiding his stare, she has no energy to tell him about the reason for their fake relationship. And it’s really bugging her that he keeps talking about the outing “Alright! I’m going but you’re going to drive! You’re bringing the car” she pointed her fingers at him.

“Ofcourse, do you think I’ll let you drive? I kinda don’t trust your driving skills”

“Do you think I trust your driving skills? I expected us to crash somewhere in hell tomorrow that’s why I let you” She rolled her eyes at him, Temari felt like he was mocking and making a joke while she was in a bad mood is not a good idea.

“Wow!” He exclaimed “Yeah right! Give me your address, I’m going to pick you up at 10 in the morning so be prepared early”

“10 in the morning is your early? You’re unbelievable” she said while sending him her address

“I don’t have any time for your games woman, go back to your office I’ll be seeing you tomorrow” He grabbed her arms but she resisted

“I’ll be staying here for a while, go back to your desk” still avoiding showing her emotions

“Suit yourself”

The next day, Shikamaru showed up in front of her apartment at exactly 10 in the morning. Temari was waiting outside still with a deadpan expression. She walked towards his car after seeing him parking in front carrying a big shoulder bag filled with her stuff. She was wearing all black with shades like she was mourning.

Temari entered his car and sits in front then throws her bag in the back seat. Shikamaru just stared at her and shakes his head.

“Are you done?” he asked

“Yeah, starts driving” she said in her low voice. Her head leaned on the window and Shikamaru can’t help but felt curious about her actions.

Shikamaru starts driving to their destination, he glances at her a couple of times wondering why she’s gloomy today. His fingers glided to the monitor and opened the music application, he clicked his favorite playlist and the first song started playing.

Despair In The Departure Lounge by Artic Monkeys

Temari’s ears filled with music, the song that was playing inside her head just merged with the song playing in his car so she was clueless if it was in her ears or in Shikamaru’s car. Temari started to hum and sing the song that was playing. Shikamaru glanced at her and was surprised that she knows the song.

“You know that song?” He asked

She turned her head at him with sad eyes “Yeah why?”

“Nothing. I haven’t thought you’re into alternative” It’s his first time meeting someone that has the same taste in music and it piques his interest. He unconsciously smiled in his seat.

“Why? You thought I haven’t listened to arctic monkeys? I always heard them every night”

“You listened to this every night?” Shikamaru curiously asked

“And Chase Atlantic”

“And Chase Atlantic?” He’s so interested now

“Yeah, and the band who made the song about daddy issues” she said while still leaning her head to the window.

“The Neighbourhood?”

“Yeah, I guess that one. I always hear those fuckers at night”

He chuckled, Shikamaru finds it really weird but was impressed that she listens to the same song he always played at night. It’s very rare to find a girl that has the same taste in music. He knows Ino, Sakura, Hinata, and other village girls liked different music genres and most of them was a fan of pop, acoustic, and R&B.

Am I attracted to that? No way

“I guess you’re going to hear those three for the entire trip because I think we have the same taste in music”

 Temari just smiled in her seat still looking outside the car window “Can you play Cry baby for me next?”

Shikamaru turns his head at her. Her voice sounds familiar when she said Cry baby like he heard it before “Can you say that again?”

“I said, can you play cry baby?” in her low and sad tone

“Alright. Uhm” He clicked the song and starts playing “It sounds so familiar”

“What?”

“Nothing”

They both reached the Icha beach resort at 5 pm and the sunset starts peeking at the end of the horizon, it was a beautiful view. They both walked outside the car and Shikamaru grabbed her stuff from the back seat. He noticed how she acted today, for the whole day she was sad and gloomy, it was very unusual of her. Shikamaru wanted to ask her something, he wanted to know the reason why she started this fake relationship thing because he was still clueless.

“Temari, can I ask you something?”

She turned around and look at him “Yeah”

“Can you tell me why did you ask me to be your fake boyfriend?”